Cellophane cut out kits for optical art

ABSTRACT

One or more transparent or translucent sheets of cellophane are folded and cuts are made to create symmetric patterns and designs. The cellophane creates diffraction, refraction, interference, and reflection pattern of light that become strikingly visible when viewed under polarized light. The cellophane patterns and designs are placed on top of one another such that the holes in the overlapping sheets cause a variation in the path of light traveling through the layers of the cellophane, creating beautiful and varied optical patterns of light that change with the placement of the layers of cellophane and with variation of the angle of polarized light for a kaleidoscope effect. The cellophane is viewed against the backdrop of a blue sky to provide a source of polarized light. Placing the cellophane on glossy black cardboard brings out the prismatic colors created by light refraction and reflection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/200,500, filed Sep. 23, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application No. 61/385,930, filed Sep. 23, 2010, eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference in its respective entirety.This invention also builds off the inventor's prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/931,810, filed Feb 11, 2011, which is alsoincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to optical art.

BACKGROUND

The art of folding paper and cutting out pieces of the folded paper tocreate a symmetrical display of designs is a very old craft technique.Children learn how to cutout a string of paper dolls using this method.The technique has been applied to cutout intricate patterns likesnowflakes using a few well-placed holes in folded paper. The choice ofpatterns is infinite and even random placement of holes in folded paperwill create a design. Creations can vary according to number of folds,size of paper, color of paper, placement of fold lines, and the type,placement, and shape of holes cutout. Up until now this art has beenlimited to paper craft, without application in other areas of interest.

Needs exist for expanded opportunities to experience science throughart, making both science and art more attractive to children and adults.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that both the following summary and the detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to providefurther explanation of the invention as claimed. Neither the summary northe description that follows is intended to define or limit the scope ofthe invention to the particular features mentioned in the summary or inthe description.

In certain embodiments, the disclosed embodiments may include one ormore of the features described herein.

In this invention, the familiar strategy of paper cutouts is applied ina new and innovative way using cellophane. Instead of paper, one or moretransparent or translucent sheets of cellophane are folded and cuts aremade to create symmetric patterns and designs. There, sheets ofcellophane have a property that paper does not have. The cellophanecreates a diffraction pattern of light that becomes strikingly visiblewhen viewed under polarized light.

When sheets of the cellophane are placed on top of one another such thatthe holes in the overlapping sheets cause a variation in the path oflight traveling through the layers of the cellophane, beautiful andvaried optical patterns of light are created. These patterns change withthe placement of the layers of cellophane and when the transmission ofpolarized light is varied. This can be achieved by movement of the lightsource, rotation of a polarizing film, changing an observer's position,or even rotating the cellophane cutouts themselves creating akaleidoscope effect. The cellophane also exhibits photoelasticity,particularly if stretched or otherwise stressed.

The optical patterns manifested in the cellophane and other materialsuse the properties of light exhibited in reflection, refraction,interference and diffraction. Optical effects are also enhanced withglow in the dark material or drawings/art, which are used in someembodiments to add to the optical effects observed. Glow-in-the-darkmaterial can create an observable optical effect even when there is alight source glowing behind the glow-in-the-dark material.

In addition to cellophane, any translucent paper-thin material, such aswax paper, can be used and layered with optical material. A layer ofliquid optical material such as rubber cement can be applied to thesurface of the thin material or between layers of the thin material.

The cutouts removed from the cellophane in some embodiments arebent/creased in a certain way to fold them into a 3D configuration (thatdoes not merely lie flat) and stacked to create an iridescent and variedprismatic display pattern as light flows through the structures ofstacked and bent patterns. Light patterns change with the point of viewof the viewer and the direction of the light source through thecellophane structures.

Kits that provide the customer with cut-to-size sheets with folding andcutting directions, along with a toy polariscope for viewing creations,provide the user with a new way to experience both art and science.These kits in some embodiments also come with pre-cut patterns that thecustomer can use, with directions on how to overlap or stack them aswell. Parts or all of the polariscope in some embodiments glow in thedark. Glow-in-the-dark polarizing glasses and polariscopes allow usersto see rainbow colors magically appear when using them with a lightsource when the room is dark.

Black Glossy cardboard, the blue sky, other reflective surfacesincluding water or other liquid surfaces in some embodiments also serveas a polarizing source to view these patterns.

In a new optical art method, one or more sheets of cellophane arefolded, one or more shapes are cutout along a fold of the one or morefolded sheets of cellophane, the cellophane is unfolded to reveal one ormore symmetrical designs, and the designs are viewed under polarizedlight. In an embodiment, two or more of the designs are overlapped whenviewing the designs under polarized light to create diffractionpatterns. In an embodiment, one or more of the sheets of cellophane arefolded into a three-dimensional design. The three-dimensional design maybe stacked with another design. This other design may also bethree-dimensional.

In an embodiment, a source of the polarized light is moved or rotated toproduce shifting colors. In an embodiment, the designs are moved orrotated while being viewed under polarized light to produce shiftingcolors. In an embodiment, the designs are viewed with a polariscope. Inan embodiment, the designs are viewed through a polarizing lens. Thepolarizing lens may be rotated during viewing to produce shiftingcolors. In an embodiment, the designs are placed on glossy blackcardboard. In an embodiment, the designs are viewed under polarizinglight by holding them up to a blue sky. In an embodiment, a kiteincluding the designs is constructed.

In one embodiment, two or more sheets of cellophane are foldedidentically, similar shapes are cutout of each sheet of cellophane indifferent sizes, and the cellophane sheets are aligned and layered inorder from the cellophane sheet with the smallest cutout shapes to thesheet with the largest cutout shapes, such that the cutout shapes ofeach cellophane sheet surround the cutout shapes of the cellophane sheetbeneath it. In an embodiment, the cellophane is sandwiched betweenpolarizing films and the polarizing films are secured together at theiredges with one or more rings of cardboard. In an embodiment, one or moreof the cutout shapes are fixed to the unfolded cellophane. In anembodiment, glow-in-the-dark material is added to the unfoldedcellophane.

In a new optical art method, one or more sheets of translucentpaper-thin material are folded, the one or more sheets of translucentpaper-thin material are layered with liquid optical material, one ormore shapes are cutout along a fold of the one or more folded sheets oftranslucent paper-thin material, the translucent paper-thin material isunfolded to reveal one or more symmetrical designs, and the designs areviewed under polarized light.

A new optical art kit includes sheets of cellophane, one or morepolarizing lenses, and guides for folding and cutting the sheets ofcellophane to create designs and for overlapping the designs and viewingthem under polarizing light to view light reflection, refraction,diffraction, or interference patterns. The guide may include a finishedcutout pattern, template, cutout patterns in various stages ofcompletion, and/or images of construction steps and/or designs invarious stages of completion, rendered on physical or electronic media.The kit may include glossy black cardboard for placing cellophane on forviewing, a polariscope, where the one or more polarizing lenses are apart of the polariscope. a motorized rotational device with attachmentstructure for attaching to and rotating the polarizing lenses, and/or apolariscope or pair of polarizing glasses, comprising glow-in-the-darkmaterial.

These and other objectives and features of the invention are apparent inthe disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing writtenspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, togetherwith the description, further serve to enable a person skilled in thepertinent art to make and use these embodiments and others that will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creatingpatterns by folding and cutting out holes, starting with a precision-cutsheet of cellophane.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creatingpatterns by folding and cutting out holes, starting with a precision-cutsheet of cellophane.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating further steps in the method of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a picture of four sheets of cellophane with a cut out patternproduced by folding the sheets of cellophane and cutting out a varietyof hole shapes and patterns.

FIG. 5 is a picture of the four sheets of cellophane shown in FIG. 4viewed under polarized light.

FIG. 6 is a picture of the four sheets of cellophane placed on top ofone another and viewed under polarized light.

FIG. 7 is a picture of the four sheets on top of one another placedbetween two rings of polarizing films, held together with a paper clipand inserted in the slit in the base of a toy polariscope.

FIG. 8 is a close up of FIG. 7 showing the two rings of polarizing filmswith the sheets of cut patterns of cellophane in between.

FIG. 9 shows the sheets of cutout cellophane between the two rings ofpolarizing films placed over a light.

FIG. 10 is a picture of three sizes of a cellophane pattern cut out fromthree separate cellophane sheets.

FIG. 11 is a picture of the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern placed ontop of one another.

FIG. 12 is a picture of the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern viewed underpolarized light.

FIGS. 13-14 show the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern shown in FIG. 12placed on top of one another and viewed under polarized light.

FIG. 15 shows additional possible cutout patterns. A variety of cutoutpatterns are possible and can even be 3D rather than flat.

FIG. 16 shows the cutout patterns of FIG. 15 stacked for a 3D effect.

FIG. 17 shows layered cutout cellophane viewed on glossy blackcardboard.

FIGS. 18-19 show cellophane cutouts and origami viewed against a bluesky through a polarizing film.

FIG. 20 shows cellophane tubes.

FIGS. 21-22 show examples of cellophane cutout optical art.

FIG. 23 shows an example of a diorama using a fish-tank polariscopeenclosure.

FIG. 24 shows an example of layered cutout cellophane viewed on glossyblack cardboard.

FIGS. 25-29 show the steps of inserting cellophane art into apolariscope for viewing.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an optical artmethod.

FIGS. 31-46 are color photographs of FIGS. 4-6, 11-14, 17-24 and 28,respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cellophane cutout kits for optical art will now be disclosed in terms ofvarious exemplary embodiments. This specification discloses one or moreembodiments that incorporate features of the invention. Theembodiment(s) described, and references in the specification to “oneembodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicatethat the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Such phrases are not necessarily referringto the same embodiment. When a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, personsskilled in the art may effect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed.

In the several figures, like reference numerals may be used for likeelements having like functions even in different drawings. The figuresare not to scale. The embodiments described, and their detailedconstruction and elements, are merely provided to assist in acomprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent thatthe present invention can be carried out in a variety of ways, and doesnot require any of the specific features described herein. Also,well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail sincethey would obscure the invention with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creatingpatterns by folding and cutting out holes, starting with a precision-cutsheet of cellophane.

One sheet of a square piece of transparent or translucent cellophane isfolded 1 in half along its diagonal. The sheet is folded again 2 along aline connecting the apex of the triangle with the midpoint of thehypotenuse of the triangle. This fold is repeated 3, resulting in afolded sheet 4 shown prior to making cuts. A cut in the shape of atriangle is made 5 along the main fold (this cut is half the actual holeproduced which in this case is a diamond-like shape), producing apattern 6 when the sheet is unfolded. More patterned sheets are created7 using this technique. Different shaped holes are created 8 in sheetsby this method. The sheets are overlapped 9 and viewed under polarizedlight for effect.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creatingpatterns by folding and cutting out holes, starting with a precision-cutsheet of cellophane. A sheet as before is folded in half 10 along thediagonal to result in the folded sheet before cutting 11. A portion iscutout 12 along the fold, resulting in a pattern of the cutout 13produced when the sheet is unfolded. The method is repeated 15 one ormore times with new sheets of cellophane, making the size of the holesmaller or larger as in this case, resulting in the unfolded sheet 14.The result is the same pattern that partially overlaps due todifferences in size, which causes a diffraction pattern of light whenthe sheets overlap one another.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating further steps in the method of FIG. 2.A sheet with a still larger cut 16 is used to add to the area of overlapof uncut material, resulting in the unfolded sheet with larger cut 7.Sheets are placed on top of one another 18, the holes of each layergradually exposing more of the underlying sheets. The order of placementof the sheets and even the orientation can vary. The partial overlappingof cellophane produces the optical effect through a diffraction pattern.A generic example uses individual petal shapes 19 and shows the petalshapes overlapped 20 in such a way that a portion of the petals coverone another partially, creating an optical effect.

FIG. 4 is a picture of four sheets of cellophane 21 with cut outpatterns 23 produced by folding the sheets of cellophane and cutting outa variety of hole shapes and patterns.

FIG. 5 is a picture of the four sheets of cellophane 21 shown in FIG. 4viewed under polarized light.

FIG. 6 is a picture of the four sheets of cellophane shown in FIGS. 4and 5 placed on top of one another and viewed under polarized light.

FIG. 7 is a picture of the four sheets on top of one another as shown inFIG. 6 and placed between two rings 25 of polarizing films, heldtogether with a paper clip 27 and inserted in the slit 29 in the base 31of a toy polariscope 33. The rings 25 are for example two-layer rings ofcardboard 35 with a polarizing film 37 inserted between the layers ofeach ring and secured by adhesive or a clip 27 or other fastener.

FIG. 8 is a close up of FIG. 7 showing the two rings 25 of polarizingfilms with the sheets of cut patterns of cellophane in between.

FIG. 9 shows the sheets of cutout cellophane between the two rings 25 ofpolarizing films placed over a light 39.

FIG. 10 is a picture of three sizes of a cellophane pattern 41, 43, 45cutout from three separate cellophane sheets.

FIG. 11 is a picture of the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern 41, 43, 45placed on top of one another.

FIG. 12 is a picture of the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern 41, 43, 45viewed under polarized light.

FIGS. 13-14 show the 3 sizes of a cellophane pattern 41, 43, 45 shown inFIG. 12 placed on top of one another and viewed under polarized lightfrom various angles.

FIG. 15 shows additional possible cutout patterns 47. A variety ofcutout patterns are possible and can even be 3D rather than flat. Thepatterns shown have been folded so that they extend substantially out ofthe xy plane of the original cellophane sheet and into the perpendicularz-plane, giving the patterns depth and making them three-dimensional.Although a flat sheet of cellophane might technically be calledthree-dimensional like any physical object, it would not be considered athree-dimensional design according to the present invention, nor wouldan otherwise flat sheet having a residual fold line or surface markings.

FIG. 16 shows the cutout patterns 47 of FIG. 15 stacked for a 3D effect.

FIG. 17 shows layered cutout cellophane 49 viewed on glossy blackcardboard 51. Optical patterns created by the cellophane are due tolight reflection and refraction as well as diffraction and interference.In addition to the use of the properties of reflection, refraction,diffraction and interference for cellophane under polarized light, ablack glossy cardboard or other reflective surface can be used under thecellophane and/or tape. The resulting optical effect can be seen withone polarizing film for the viewer, the cellophane and the black glossycardboard. The effect is also visible when using cellophane 53, onepolarizing film 55 for viewing and the sky 57 as a backdrop as in FIGS.25-26. At times, the color pattern can be seen even without a polarizingfilm, just using one or more thin layers of cellophane on black glossycardboard. The pattern may even be observed without placing a blackglossy cardboard or other reflective surface. This happens at an angleof observation when light undergoes total internal reflection within thematerial.

Black glossy cardboard brings out the prismatic colors created by lightrefraction and reflection in the cutouts of cellophane when viewed withpolarized light. Light diffraction and interference also play a role,but the most prominent activity is in the reflection and refraction oflight. This effect on the cellophane and tape art with the sky acting asa polarizer and using one polarizing film in front is shown in FIGS.25-26. The tape art and regular folded cellophane also work with theback glossy cardboard. In some embodiments, the black glossy cardboardis in a shape such that it forms a part of the art work, for example itmay be an animal shape, an ambiguous shape, or any of a variety ofshapes to enhance the cellophane art placed on it. The shapes may bethree-dimensional. The shape of the black cardboard may combine with thecellophane art to form a unified overall object, for example thecardboard could be in the rough shape of a baseball glove and thecellophane in the rough shape of a baseball ball in the glove, or thecardboard could form the outer petals of a flower and the cellophane artcould make up the inner parts of the flower.

In some embodiments, folded structures of black glossy cardboard arecreated to alter the angles of incident light passing through flat orthree dimensional structures of cellophane art. These reflectivesurfaces need not be black and in some embodiments are made of othermaterial besides cardboard.

FIGS. 18-19 show cellophane cutouts and origami viewed against a bluesky through a polarizing film. Holding a cellophane toy up to the bluesky instead of a second polarizing film works very well to bring outdynamic, colorful patterns. The cellophane art, whether cut shapesand/or origami, with or without tape art, in one embodiment isconstructed into a kite and flown like a kite, or in other embodiments,made to fly electronically or by other means. In some embodiments,polarizing film is a part of the assembly and allows the colorfulpatterns to be viewed without any device carried by the viewer on theground. In other embodiments, the kite is viewed through a polarizingfilm, such as with polarizing glasses, using the blue sky as the otherpolarizing source. Materials other than cellophane and tape are used inthe construction of the kite in some embodiments, including photoelasticplastic material.

FIG. 20 shows cellophane tubes. Cellophane sheets are rolled into tubes,causing the cellophane to overlap itself. The various levels of overlapand curvature create shifting color patterns under polarized light. Thecellophane sheets can be folded and/or cut prior to rolling for evenmore variance in color patterns.

FIGS. 21-22 show examples of cellophane cutout optical art. FIG. 21 is ahuman figure and FIG. 22 is a butterfly with vivid colors. By carefulcutting and overlapping of cellophane, a wide variety of designs andcolor schemes can be achieved. In FIG. 21, the layering of thecellophane sheets creates eyes and a mouth of similar colors, distinctfrom the surrounding color of the rest of the face. Any number ofcomplex designs can be created in such a fashion.

FIG. 23 shows an example of a diorama using a fish-tank polariscopecontainer. The polariscope container has polarizing material on itssides and cellophane designs 61 are inserted in the container alongwith, for example, coral 63, and photoelastic plastic objects 65 tocreate a vivid underwater scene.

FIG. 24 shows an example of layered cutout cellophane 47 viewed onglossy black cardboard 49. If the cellophane is rotated over thecardboard, the colors shift. This same effect is achieved when rotatingthe cellophane in front of the sky or a polarizing reflective surfacelike water.

FIGS. 25-29 show the steps of inserting cellophane art into apolariscope for viewing. FIG. 25 shows a polarizing film mounted on aring 67 inserted into a side slot 75 in stand 73. Black glossy cardboarddiamond 71 is inserted in another slot 75 and secures a cylindricalstrip of cardboard 69. The stand 73 as shown is created by folding apaper strip and inserting a tab in the strip into a slot in the strip.In FIG. 26, a second ring 67 is inserted in another slot 75 in the stand73, such that the rings 67 sandwich the cardboard cylinder 69. FIG. 27shows overlapping cellophane 77 inserted in the cardboard cylinder 69.When the second ring 67 is added, the cellophane 77 is secured betweenthe two rings (and polarizing films). FIGS. 28 and 29 show thecellophane 77 inserted between the rings 67 viewed under light polarizedby the films.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an optical artmethod. One or more sheets of cellophane or translucent paper-thinmaterial layered with liquid optical material are folded 101, one ormore shapes are cut out 103 along a fold of the one or more foldedsheets of cellophane, the sheet is unfolded 105 to reveal one or moresymmetrical designs, and the designs are viewed 107 under polarizedlight. Two or more of the designs are overlapped 109 when viewing thedesigns under polarized light to create diffraction patterns. One ormore of the sheets are folded 111 into a three-dimensional design. Thethree-dimensional design may be stacked 113 with another design and thisother design may also be three-dimensional.

A source of the polarized light 115 and/or the designs 117 are moved orrotated to produce shifting colors. The designs are viewed with apolariscope 119 and/or a polarizing lens 121. The polarizing lens may berotated 123 during viewing to produce shifting colors. The designs areplaced 125 on glossy black cardboard. The designs are viewed underpolarizing light by holding them 127 up to a blue sky. A kite includingthe designs is constructed 129. The cellophane is sandwiched 131 betweenpolarizing films and the polarizing films are secured together at theiredges with one or more rings of cardboard. One or more of the cut-outshapes are fixed 133 to the unfolded sheet. Glow-in-the-dark material isadded 135 to the unfolded cellophane.

FIGS. 31-46 are color photographs of FIGS. 4-6, 11-14, 17-24 and 29,respectively.

In some embodiments, the polariscope takes a variety of forms. In onesuch embodiment, the polariscope comprises a container in which thecellophane art cutouts are placed. Other objects can also be placedinside to create an art scene or diorama, for example rocks, coral, andother photoelastic plastic items may be placed inside to create a fishtank scene. The container may have polarizing material on its sides forviewing the contents under polarized light.

Cellophane squares or other shapes and directions are supplied for thepurpose of cutting out intricate patterns as is done with paper doll orsnowflake cutouts. These patterns are overlapped for endless opticaleffects. In some embodiments, pre-cut patterns are overlapped in avariety of ways. The folded cellophane and even the cut outs in someembodiments make 3D objects that can be enjoyed and not just flat artobjects.

Cellophane images are colorful when viewed under polarized light,otherwise the images just look like a clear piece of cellophane. Thiseffect has not previously been used in this manner for a toy product.Kits provide directions for creating patterns by folding the cellophaneand cutting out holes. One or more of these patterns are overlapped witheach other and viewed with the toy polariscope to provide an endlessexperience of changing colors. Some patterns can stand up and create a3D effect.

Cut-outs can be displayed sandwiched between two rings with polarizingfilms in both the vertical and horizontal position and can be simplyclipped or laid over one ring and viewed with polarizing glasses. Theuse of glasses and one ring is more effective when using the 3Dcreations of folded cellophane or folded and stacked cellophane.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments describedabove in detail. Those skilled in the art will recognize that otherarrangements could be devised, for example, using various shapes andsizes of cellophane sheets, variously shaped and sized cutouts, varioustools and methods of creating cutouts, various devices and structuresfor viewing, and various methods of layering and interacting multiplesheets to create various patterns of light. The invention encompassesevery possible combination of the various features of each embodimentdisclosed. While the invention has been described with reference tospecific illustrative embodiments, modifications and variations of theinvention may be constructed without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. An optical art kit, comprising: sheets of cellophane; one or morepolarizing lenses; and guides for folding and cutting the sheets ofcellophane to create designs and for overlapping the designs and viewingthem under polarizing light to view light reflection, refraction,diffraction, or interference patterns.
 2. The kit of claim 1, furthercomprising glossy black cardboard for placing cellophane on for viewing.3. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a polariscope, wherein the oneor more polarizing lenses are a part of the polariscope.
 4. The kit ofclaim 1, further comprising a motorized rotational device withattachment structure for attaching to, and rotating, the polarizinglenses.
 5. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a polariscope or pairof polarizing glasses, comprising glow-in-the-dark material.
 6. The kitof claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface for placingcellophane on for viewing.
 7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the surface isa source of polarized light.
 8. The kit of claim 1, further comprising apolarizing reflective surface to serve as a source of polarized light,wherein the polarizing reflecting surface is water or another liquidsurface.
 9. The kit of claim 1, wherein the guides further comprisepre-cut patterns for creating the designs on the sheets of cellophane.10. The kit of claim 8, further comprising instructions on how tooverlap or stack the designs for viewing the designs under thepolarizing light.
 11. An optical art kit, comprising: sheets ofcellophane; one or more polarizing lenses; and a plurality of cutoutpatterns for cutting the sheets of cellophane to create designs that canbe viewed under polarizing light to view light reflection, refraction,diffraction, or interference patterns.
 12. The optical art kit of claim11, wherein the plurality of cutout patterns is rendered on physical orelectronic media.
 13. The optical art kit of claim 11, furthercomprising a reflective surface for placing the designs on for viewing.14. The optical art kit of claim 13, wherein the reflective surface isglossy black cardboard.
 15. A toy kit, comprising: sheets of cellophane;a toy polariscope; and instructions for creating patterns in the sheetsof cellophane by folding and cutting the sheets of cellophane.
 16. Thetoy kit of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprisedirections for overlapping the patterns in the sheets of cellophane witheach other in order to be viewed by the toy polariscope.
 17. The toy kitof claim 15, wherein at least one of the patterns is three-dimensional.18. The toy kit of claim 15, further comprising a reflective surface forplacing the designs on for viewing.
 19. The toy kit of claim 18, whereinthe surface is glossy black cardboard.